Senators 3rd Jersey Poll

Current 3rd Jersey

Heritage Jersey

Ever since it appeared in a video on the Ottawa Senators' official web site, Jacob Barrette's Heritage jersey, has been getting a lot of press. Now Icethetics wants to know what you think about it all!

Which jersey do you like better? After introducing it just last year, should the Sens hang onto their new "SENS" jersey? Or should they send it to the scrap heap and go with Jacob's Heritage look? Vote now!

And after you've voted, if you'd like to sign the petition to get the Senators to adopt the Heritage jersey, click here.

Olympic First Look: Canada

— ICETHETICS EXCLUSIVE —

We're less than a week away from the official unveiling of Team USA's jerseys for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. And while I haven't yet come across a date for Team Canada's Olympic sweaters, I do have a first look for Icethetics readers.

Team Canada's 2010 Olympics red sweater

Kind of what a lot of fans were expecting. Classic, old-time hockey feel. Very impressive. Same with the white ones.

Team Canada's 2010 Olympics white sweater

The red shoulder yoke keeps the sweater from looking washed out. Now you're probably all wondering about that odd-looking crest, wanting a closer view. Check this out.

Team Canada's 2010 Olympics sweater crest

The subtle nod to the style of the Vancouver Olympics artwork all but makes these jerseys perfect. I'm no Canadian so I want to know what you guys think of these.

By the way, for those not in the loop, the reason this was such a big deal is that with the announcement that national federation logos would no longer be permitted as crests on Olympic jerseys (i.e.: Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, etc.), many wondered what the new sweaters would look like. Now you know.

Update on Friday · Aug 14 · 2009 | 11:28 AM PDT by Chris

For those who haven't heard, it's worth pointing out again. Team Canada will officially unveil these jerseys on Monday afternoon. Team USA will do the same. I will, as always, have pictures to share.

By the way, welcome Toronto Star readers! Once you get your fill of the Olympic jerseys, have a look around the site. I'm sure you'll find something you like.

USF Hockey Needs a Logo

The University of South Florida has a hockey team — it's true. They're actually quite good. This coming season they're celebrating their impressive 20th anniversary. They want to introduce a unique, new look that will make them stand out. Naturally, they came to Icethetics.

Designers, this is your opportunity to help rebrand a real team — the USF Ice Bulls. The Ice Bulls play in the American Collegiate Hockey League's Division III and are a small, non-profit organization and as such cannot afford to pay a big marketing firm for a new identity. It also means no monetary compensation for Icethetics designers. However, that doesn't mean there won't be swag for the winner. Read on.

The Project Guidelines: Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to create a new visual identity for the USF Ice Bulls. You may NOT use elements from the official university logos, seen below. Your logos must be original and stick to the team color palette — green, gold, white and black.The new logo will appear on the team web site, T-shirts, hats and other items.

Creative Direction: The organization is looking for a distinctive, professional-grade logo to represent the team on and off the ice. The design will be part of a larger marketing effort to help the team stand out apart from the university. I posted the university's official athletics logos for inspiration, but they may not be part of your final designs.

The team would like a distinguished look, recognizable as a hockey team. This means no goofy characters or eccentric artwork. To aid in establishing the new identity, they are not opposed to using the team name as well as hockey paraphernalia such as sticks or pucks in the design.

Minimum Requirements: Submit an original primary logo using the predefined color palette, below. If text is included in the logo, Serpentine font must be used. (Similar Babylon 5 font available for free online.) The team name isn't a requirement but would be useful in terms of establishing the new identity.

You may also submit secondary marks but these are not required.

Color Palette: You may use black, white, green (PMS 343 or RGB 0,87,60) and gold (PMS 4515 or RGB 203,182,118). Black is the only optional color, the rest are required.

The Reward: Unlike our other competitions, these logos will not go up for a vote initially. Finalists will be displayed on the blog but the winner will be chosen by the Ice Bulls organization.

The designer of the winning logo will be given an official team jersey as well as a T-shirt featuring the logo. Scroll down for full prize list! Other items may be announced at a later date.Since the season is beginning soon, the new logo will not be featured on the uniforms this year, but could be in the future.

As if that weren't enough, think about how great a college hockey team identity would look in your portfolio!

Bonus: You might increase your odds at winning if you create a 20th Anniversary logo to match your primary mark. Same rules as above. Just saying.

Submissions/Legal: By submitting your artwork to icethetics@gmail.com, you are freely relinquishing rights of the design to the University of South Florida Ice Bulls hockey club for the purposes of marketing the team. The Ice Bulls organization will choose the winning logo and reserves to right to make alterations as needed. The creator of the winning logo will be compensated as previously stated.

So have fun with this project, guys. There isn't really a set timeline for this project but I would like to take some designs to the team within the next couple of weeks. As always, questions can be directed to me by email or in the comments.

Update on Friday · Aug 14 · 2009 | 8:23 AM PDT by Chris

The USF Ice Bulls are now giving you an even better reason to help recreate their visual identity — a cash prize! I just got word from the team that they're going to offer $100 to the winning designer. As if that weren't enough, they're now confirming that the winning logo will be the crest on the home jersey THIS season!

So many great submissions have already come in, but the Ice Bulls are hoping to ramp up the efforts by sweetening the pot a little. So let's say your design wins, allow me to recap your reward:

• Official Ice Bulls home jersey featuring your primary logo as the crest
• Your 20th anniversary logo as a patch on the jerseys all season
• Ice Bulls hockey t-shirt featuring your logo
• $100 in cash
• Visibility of your work by more than 30,000 USF students and staff via a variety of on-campus marketing materials as well as the team's official web site
• ACHA Division III team visual identity in your portfolio

So if that doesn't make you want in, I don't know what will. Once the Ice Bulls have made a decision, I'll start posting the designs I've received on the Concepts page — liven that up a little bit.

By the way, if you've already submitted artwork you're still eligible for all of the aforementioned prizes. Good luck to all!

Update on Tuesday · Aug 18 · 2009 | 3:25 PM PDT by Chris

The Ice Bulls have made a final decision on their new logo and the winning design will be unveiled on their web site tomorrow. I'll be sure to let you know when that happens.

A Cartoon by Dave

Sens Hint at New 3rd Jersey?

An Ottawa Senators-centric blog called The 6th Sens picked up on a story tonight I'm sure a lot of Icethetics readers will be interested in. It has to do with the question of whether the club is contemplating a new third jersey for the near future.

The Sens introduced their infamous "Sens" jersey just last season, marketing themselves as "Back in Black," but recent renovations at ScotiaBank Place have us wondering whether that particular sweater is long for this world.

Instead, what about this?

It's a concept that has been floating around the web ever since the Senators introduced the new "O" logo in 2007 — maybe even before that.

I think at one point there was even a petition on behalf of Senators fans to get the team to adopt this jersey. Could their wish be coming true?

In an interview with SensTV's Gord Wilson, COO Cyril Leeder talked about a new addition to the arena called The O Store — he said it's a nod to the old days when the Sens wore that big O on their chest.

But it's not so much what he said in the video as it was the artist renderings that were shown. They depicted this very jersey design on the shelves of the new store.

Previewing the new O Store at ScotiaBank Place

As you can see, not only is that exact jersey on the self, but also the vintage "barber-pole" style similar to one of the classic sweaters the Canadiens wore last season. Here's another shot.

That awesome O jersey is all over the place

It makes you wonder whether this was some secret plan all along. But that's for conspiracy theorists. For the rest of us, it's a nod toward a very exciting possibility that Ottawa might at last have one of the best jerseys in the NHL — not long after unleashing one of the worst on us.

Here's the video in case you're interested in seeing some of the other renderings.

If for some reason that doesn't work for you, here's a direct link.

This isn't official and it may turn out to be nothing at all, but it's sure interesting to think about nonetheless. Thanks to Paul for the tip.

Update on Monday · Aug 10 · 2009 | 12:41 PM PDT by Chris

You guys and your silly comments. You never learn. Your loss.

Anyway, I did hear from Jacob, the designer of the now famous black "O" jersey, and he says while he has not been in contact with the team, he has spoken with the Ottawa Citizen. Perhaps the local media could be of some help in getting the the Senators into such a well-designed jersey one day.

In the meantime, you can always do your part by signing the petition.

Update on Monday · Aug 10 · 2009 | 10:03 PM PDT by Chris

The Ottawa Citizen now has a great article on this very subject. Definitely worth a read for Icethetics fans. Here's a brief excerpt.

Jacob Barrette is passionate about putting a new face on the Ottawa Senators, but it has nothing to do with whether Dany Heatley returns to the lineup or not.

For Barette, it’s all about old-time hockey, or at least the look of the good old days.

Barrette wants today’s Senators to dress more like the Senators clubs that won 11 Stanley Cups between 1903 and '27. He has 900 names on a petition asking the Senators to adopt a throwback look featuring a stylized "O" on the front of their jerseys with broad stripes behind it.

"I just think it’s a good way to promote the history of the team and its roots in Ottawa," says Barrette, who owns a graphics design company and teaches graphic design at La Cité Collégiale. "I think they’ve done a good job of promoting the team towards kids, but I think they’re lacking a bit in celebrating the heritage of having an NHL team in Ottawa."

The Senators clearly believe there’s at least some marketing appeal to the old look. Ottawa players have worn a smaller "O" as a shoulder patch on their uniforms for the past two National Hockey League seasons and a select number of vintage "O" souvenir sweaters have been sold at the club's merchandise store at Scotiabank Place.

Last week, the Senators also announced they would be opening the "O Store" in the second level at Scotiabank Place, where fans could buy a wider selection of the vintage jerseys and souvenirs featuring the club’s traditional gladiator logo.

There are no plans, however, for Senators players to sport the "O" on the front of their jerseys for the 2009-10 season, a team spokesman says.

Take note. No plans for the Sens to wear this one next season. But it doesn't say anything about 2010 and beyond.